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We're All Born This Way

Rick Lawrence Tuesday, April 16, 2013
The other day I had breakfast with an old friend—we’ve met, off and on, two Saturday mornings a month for 10 years or so. I hadn’t seen him in a few months, so we had some catching up to do. I asked about his family. He paused, glanced down for a moment, then...
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Leadership, Discipleship

Guarded Heart: Four Keys to Keeping Focus

Bob Krulish Tuesday, October 23, 2012
By Bob Krulish That’s a wise and wonderful piece of biblical advice, but howdo you guard your heart? Being in vocational ministry and maintaining devotion to Christ is tricky. The lines often bleed over between the two. It’s easy to presume our service IS relationship with Christ. Oswald Chambers... read more
Leadership, Culture

Single-Minded Trust

Rebecca Hug Tuesday, October 23, 2012
By Rebecca Hug For a long time now I’ve wished to be married. I want a partner. I want a friend. I don’t want to end up alone… There are many nights I come home wanting to download about my action-packed day of ministry, but I’m met with eerie silence, a laundry list of chores only I will complete... read more
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Leadership

The Fundamental Problem With Youth Talks

Rick Lawrence Thursday, May 26, 2011
Almost everybody in youth ministry uses youth talks as their primary teaching strategy, but do they actually work? Even though the “sermon” is the quintessential cross-denominational ministry practice, and has been since Josh McDowell was in cloth diapers, I've never, ever published an article on... read more
Leadership

Instagram Will Kill Your Youth Ministry

Daniel Beckworth Tuesday, May 21, 2013
Social media has swept across this great nation like wildfire. Facebook is on its way out. If you still use Myspace you’re most likely a stalker—or very lonely. Twitter is still rocking along quite steadily and has yet to be completely infiltrated by preteens and stay-at-home moms. Vine represents... read more
Families, Culture

Discussion Starter: Long Ordeal Ends for Kidnap Victims

Steph Martin Friday, May 10, 2013
Cleveland—The miraculous rescue of three women missing for about a decade dominated headlines last week. Amanda Berry, Gina DeJesus, and Michelle Knight are now reunited with their families after surviving a nightmare ordeal. Berry, 27, staged a daring escape Monday from the home of Ariel Castro... read more
Leadership

Youth Ministry Handoff: A Response

Scott Cohoon Thursday, May 9, 2013
Kurt & Josh continue to offer great topics and content with SYM Today. I was both challenged by the thought-provoking journal questions and encouraged by the practical transition suggestions. This week they have out done themselves by including a Football analogy. So, in keeping with the “... read more
Leadership

Youth Ministry Transitions

Kurt and Josh Wednesday, May 8, 2013
This is a season of transitions in our ministry. In just a couple of weeks the 6th-graders will be moving into our junior high ministry, our new freshman will be entering high school, and our just-graduated seniors will be moving up into the college-level program. It’s a bittersweet time of... read more
Leadership

The Youth Ministry Handoff

Kurt and Josh Tuesday, May 7, 2013
The quarterback takes the ball, and hands it to the running back. The running back forgot the play for a second, maybe the quarterback goofed and was a split-second late—either way there’s a problem with the exchange and before you know it the ball squirts from his hands on to the AstroTurf™.... read more
Leadership, Discipleship, Programming

What I Learned On The Road...

Jordan Davis Monday, May 6, 2013
Have you ever had a great idea you thought would rock, and it just didn’t go as well as it could have? I live in northeast Wyoming. Recently I took a group of 10 kids on a surprise destination road trip. I gave them a cost and a packing list and they got in the van. A few hours in they found out... read more
Culture

Discussion Starter: News of Gay Athlete Leads to Controversy

Steph Martin Friday, May 3, 2013
Washington, D.C.—In a first for American professional team sports, an active athlete has come out as homosexual. NBA free agent Jason Collins announced this week that he’s gay, leading to overwhelming support from fellow players, media, and even President Obama. Collins, a 34-year-old center,... read more